Situation Overview and Humanitarian Needs UNICEF's COVID-19 Response
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CAMEROON: COVID-19 Situation Report – #11 May 15 – May 28 Situation Overview and Humanitarian Needs As of 28 May 2020, there have been over 5,356 confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), with 177 deaths (fatality rate: 3,3%). Cases have been reported in all ten regions of the country though the majority remain in Central and Littoral regions. Situation in Numbers UNICEF continues to assist the Government response as the co-lead for Risk 5,356 COVID-19 Communications and Community Engagement (RCCE) sector. In view of the active cycle confirmed cases of transmissions increasingly impacting regions with humanitarian needs, UNICEF has adjusted its 2020 humanitarian funding requirements, ref lected in the updated inter- 177 deaths agency Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), launched on 7 May. The revised HRP includes COVID-19 response requirements in addition to those for conflict-affected and displaced children and communities. Specific UNICEF COVID-19 activities are also 7,000,000 included in UNICEF’s global COVID-19 HAC appeal, launched on 11 May. Children affected UNICEF continues its advocacy for the prevention of children detention while supporting by COVID-19 COVID-19 sensitisation for children and their caregivers in situations of detention. school closures In urban hubs, UNICEF has developed responses for street children and ensuring safe sanitary and protection environments in childcare facilities for separated and isolated US$ 24 M children. funding required of which $1.94m Following the President Paul Biya’s national address on 19 May, the Government held a received national response strategy review on 28 May. UNICEF is supporting the Ministries of education to establish conditions for safety and protection of children from infection before schools reopen on 1 June for 1,200,000 exam goers. UNICEF finalised a partnership with Cameroon Red Cross (CRC) to disinfect weekly 320 urban schools considered to be at most risk of COVID-19 transmissions in all 10 regions. To support the national response efforts, UNICEF handed over to the Ministry of Public Health a consignment of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) comprising 5,680 coverall protection, 6,950 non-sterile gowns, 2,450 N95 masks, 7,850 surgical masks. UNICEF’s COVID-19 response the cities of Yaounde and Douala and Adamoua, East, North and Far North regions. Since March 10, 10,443,146 persons have been Risk Communications and Community sensitized on COVID-19 through media, in health Engagement (RCCE) and C4D facilities, hotels and other structures as well as in To respond to the constant rise of cases in all regions, markets, bus stations and communities. So far, a total UNICEF supported the intensification of communication of 5,214 persons are engaged for sensitization activities through regional coaching on media outreach activities; including 1714 religious leaders and 133 strategies, negotiation of spaces in the media and persons from indigenous groups. An additional 313,868 dissemination of information and videos on prevention persons shared their concerns and gave their feedback in social networks. on the response, amongst which 20 persons leaving In partnership with a local water company, an itinerant with handicap, 2,497 refugees/IDPs and 1,538 from sensitisation campaign was conducted in Douala to indigenous and nomadic populations. target additional neighbourhoods. In North West and A joint WHO, MoPH and UNICEF training session was South West regions, the sensitization by CRC conducted for 25 journalists including 9 women from volunteers on recommended WHO COVID-19 barrier paper, audio-visual and internet media and from public measures with an emphasis laid on handwashing and private companies on communications relating to continued, along with the distribution of WASH kits in WASH and Health aspects of COVID19 prevention. markets and public places. In the Centre region, in addition to markets and crowded places, sensitisation Infection and Prevention Control (IPC) and on barrier measures and risk of community transmission critical medical and water, sanitation and was conducted through home visits, reaching more than 2,000 households. In the Adamawa region, the hygiene (WASH) supplies sensitization of indigenous populations, Baka and UNICEF handed over to the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) a PPE consignment comprising 5,680 coverall Bororo continued. Another 16,079 people in these communities were reached with COVID-19 response protection, 6,950 non-sterile gowns, 2,450 N95 masks, messages. 7,850 surgical masks. In addition, with the agreement of the Ministry of Public Health, UNICEF provided to the On 18 May, UNICEF donated 400 megaphones to the Ministry of Communications to support sensitisation in UN Clinic PPE comprising 600 coverall protection, 300 non-sterile gowns, 450 ‘N95’ masks as contribution to finalised a partnership with CRC to weekly disinfect 320 the Duty of care for UN staff. urban schools considered to be at most risk of COVID- In the Far North region, UNICEF supported the training 19 transmissions in all 10 regions. In addition, RCCE of 40 Health care providers on Infection Prevention activities in preparation of the reopening of school, Control (IPC). In NW Region, following UNICEF university and professional training structures are also partnership with COMINSUD on COVID-19 IPC being finalised and will focus on raising awareness in sensitization, an additional 200 volunteers were the educational community on prevention (radio, TV, sensitized, and 200 handwashing stations were posters, flyers, leaflets, essential messages, installed in public places in Mezam division. prospectuses, picture box, spots, platforms) and In Far North Region (Maroua, Kousseri), South West organisation of awareness workshops on COVID-19 by Region (Limbe, Buea) and East Region (Bertoua 1, groups of 30 key players from above-mentioned sub- Bertoua 2, Mandjou and Garoua Boula), more than sectors. 1,000 IPC trained community health workers (CHWs) carried out sensitization on COVID-19 transmission and In Yaounde, UNICEF NGO partners ALVF and CIPCRE prevention reaching a total of 799,890 persons (251,984 set up 50 handwashing stations in two public places. In men, 237,179 women, 154,228 girls and 156,499 boys) Douala, 40 handwashing stations were placed in public including 3600 people with disabilities. places in 10 neighbourhoods. In the North, a total of 150 civil registration offices were equipped with Support the provision of continued access handwashing devices. In Yaounde, ALVF and CIPCRE finalised the to essential health and nutrition services distribution of handwashing kits and face masks to for women, children and vulnerable childcare institutions. As a result, a total of 538 children communities, including case management placed in institutions and 120 staff members were In conflict affected regions, UNICEF supported the sensitized on COVID-19 preventive measures and 4 continuity of basic health services. A total of 4,193 children benefitted from psychological first aid. In East children were vaccinated in the North-West and South- Region, 23 staff members working in childcare West regions and 231 in the Far-North Region during institutions were briefed on this type of aid and Periodic Intensification Routine Immunization activities. psychosocial support for children. A total of 1,010 cloth UNICEF encouraged the adaptation of risk masks were distributed to all childcare institutions in the communication to address parents fear of COVID-19 region. In Bertoua and Abong Mbang detention centres, transmission in health facilities. In addition, 60 children benefited from sensitization on COVID-19 handwashing facilities were installed in 23 health preventive measures. centres. UNICEF partners pursued integrated COVID-19 and From May 19 to May 22, with UNICEF support, the violence against children (VAC) prevention sessions. In regional health delegation of Adamaoua in health Douala, 48 community networks were informed on districts of Tibati and Ngaoundal reinforced the preventive measures within communities and VAC. In capacities of 94 community health workers (44 women the South-West, 82 people were also sensitized in this and 50 men) on IYCF, Home Food fortification and area while in the North Region, UNICEF NGO partner prevention of the COVID-19. This complementary LOYOC and the Regional Delegation of Social Affairs training will allow the improvement of complementary conducted similar activities, reaching 22,000 persons, feeding of about 10,566 children from 6-23 months in among which 10,500 children. In the Far North, 2,716 upcoming days and reach over 150,000 with children attending Koranic schools were sensitized on appropriate messages on IYCF during COVID-19. In COVID-19 preventive measures in Mayo Sava, Mayo addition, the MoPH released on 15 May an official Tsanaga and Logone-et-Chari. Another 5,320 conflict- directive to support delivery of Vitamin A affected children benefitted from similar sensitizations Supplementation (SVA) through routine platform in throughout the region. In the North-West, a training of regions. community agents on COVID-19 sensitization and preventive measures was carried out for 20 parents and 12 lead animators in Kumbo area, who will in turn help Support access to continuous education, in sensitizations in their communities. social protection, child protection and gender-based violence (GBV) services To support the safe school reopening on 1 June for 1,200,000 exam goers across the country, UNICEF Adaptations